Paperboard carton



May 5, 1964 T. M. PACE PAPERBOARD CARTON 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 22,1962 May 5, 1964 T. M. PACE PAPERBOARD CARTON 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May22, 1962 United States Patent O 3,131,851 PAPERBARD CARTON Thomas M.Pace, Pensacola, Fla., assigner to St. Regis 'aper Company, New York,NX., a corporation of New York Filed May 22, 1962, Ser. No. 196,709 1Claim. (Cl. 229-51) This invention relates to improved collapsiblecartons formed of paperboard or the like semi-rigid sheet material.

Cartons embodying the invention are particularly adapted, among otherpossible uses, zfor the packaging of comestibles such as blocks oficecream and in cases such as where the manufacturer of the cartonsmakes it Va practice to ship large numbers thereof in collapsedcondition to packers of the commodities, the cartons being of such formthat the packers may readily set them up and pack them by the use ofavailable packing machinery with little or no change, and then seal themfor shipment to the ultimate customer.

The cartons involving the invention are provided with improvedtear-strip means which may easily and quickly be removed by the customer-to release the cover for the carton, permitting the cover to be swungopen to gain access to the contents, the cover having depending -iiangeson three edges so that it will be reelatively rm and in such form thatit may conveniently be reclosed, all without otherwise tearing orinjuring the carton. The construction is such also that after thetear-strip is removed, then one or both ends may be easily pulled opento permit the contents to be slid out endwise.

Further in accordance with the invention, the construction is such thatthe cover has what will be herein referred to as a front cover iiangedepending from the front edge of the cover and -being divisiblelongitudinally, that is horizontally, into at least three partsseparable along lines of perforations to provide an intermediate partwhich embodies the removable tear-strip means above referred to. Afterremoving such tear-strip means, the front cover flange is left with anupper part providing a remaining depending front ange on the cover and athird part which remains permanently -adhered to the front of thecarton. Furthermore, this `front cover ange is provided at both of itsends, in accordance with the invention, with aps adapted to be foldedback and Iadhered respectively to the end closure portions of the cartonand the removable tear-strip parts extend not only along the front ofthe carton but around on such folded-back iiaps so that when thetear-Strip means is removed, the cover is left with not only Iadepending flange on its front edge, but with depending flanges on thetwo ends of the cover and portions of the ifolded-back aps remainadhered to the depending anges at the ends of the cover so as to providefirm front corners for the cover structure after the :tear-strip meanshas been stripped away so as fully to release the cover, whereby it maybe swung open.

Preferably the tear-strip means is so formed as to be removable in twoparts, a pull-tab -for each part respectively being positionedconveniently near the middle of the front of the car-ton and so thatupon pulling such tabs respectively in opposite directions, the twotear-strip portions may be separately and completely removed andcompletely releasing the cover for opening. These tearstrip portionsalso are preferably each formed by two rows of perforations of suchshapes that while the tear-strips may be readily stripped away bypulling in one direction, that is from the middle of the kfront of thecarton toward the ends, yet the tear-strips cannot without breaking bestripped away by pulling on them in an opposite direction.

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Further in accordance with the invention, the end walls of the cartonare formed of flaps integral respectively with all the other panels ofthe carton and are so shaped and are of 'such areas as to provide ineach case one complete inner end wall and two superposed iiap portions,preferably heat-sealed together, and which cover those portions of theends of the carton below the anges on the ends of the cover. Aslfurnished to the packers, the cartons in collapsed condition maypreferably have their front cover iianges permanently adhered to the`front walls of the cartons and so that the cartons may be delivered incollapsed condition with only the flaps which form the end wallsremaining to be adhered in appropriate relation after the body of thecarton is set up to square form. And the end .closure liaps which aresuperposed as above referred to, as well as a part of the end li-aps onthe cover iiange portion, are provided with heat-sensitive adhesiveareas such that the ends of the car-ton may be quickly and easily closedafter filling the cartons and heat-sealed without substantial change tothe equipment available for that purpose, but still leaving the endclosure flaps in such condition that lthey may readily be pulled open bythe customer in case he desires to remove the contents endwise. Yet ifthe customer prefers simply to open `and possibly reclose the cover,this may be done upon stripping away the tear-strip portions whileleaving the carton otherwise in full useful condition, free of anylikelihood of leakage.

Various further and more specific objects, features and advantages ofthe invention will appear from the description given below, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way ofexample a preferred form of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan View showing the inside surfaces of a blank for makinga carton lin accordance with the invention, the closely stippled areasthereon indicating places where permanent adhesive is to be applied atthe time the blank is manufactured into a carton of collapsed form andthe other stippled lareas with more scattered stippling, indicatingplaces where heat-sensitive adhesive may be applied for adhering the endclosure portions after the carton is iilled by the packer;

FIG. 2 is a View like PIG. l, but showing the exterior surface of thecarton blank;

FIG. 3 is a view showing the carton in collapsed `form as shipped topackers and with the end closure portions still open;

lFIG. 4 is a view showing a carton embodying the invention after it has:been set up to square form but with the closure portions at one endonly partially moved to closed positions and the other end closureportions being shown in open condition;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the iinished, closed and sealed carton;and

FIG. 6 is a similar view but Ishowing the cover swung open lafter atear-strip means has been removed.

Referring to the drawings in further detail, as shown in IFIGS. l and 2,the initial carton blank may comprise a single integral sheet with asuccession of panels positioned `side-by-side Iand separated by foldlines as indicated by the dotted lines, such panels comprising a frontpanel 10, bottom panel 11, back panel 12, and cover panel 13, and also`a front cover iiange panel indicated generally at 14. Each of thesepanels is provided at each end with flaps for collectively forming theend closure means for the carton. The aps 1S and 16, at the ends of thebottom panel, are 'adapted to be folded up vertically, as indicated inFIG. 6, to form inner end walls of `areas substantially covering thewhole end areas of the contents of the carton. The flaps 17 and 13 onthe cover panel are adapted to be fold- Y fed overtoforrn dependingiianges at the ends of the carton cover, also as shown in'FG. 6.y Theflaps 19, 20 and 21, Z2 on the respective ends of the back and frontpanels are adapted to be folded over at the ends of the carton insuperposed relation and these carry areas of heat-sensitive adhesive forsealing same together in such relationship, as also shown for example atthe end lof the carton appearing in FIG. 6. These flaps, it will benoted, are of a width such that when folded over in said superposedrelation, they will serve to cover that part of the area yof the end ofthe carton which is below Ithe end cover ilange 18.

The front cover iiange panel indicated generally at 14,

has ila-p portions thereon at each end, as indicated generally at 23,24, v4and this panel, including the flaps thereon, isdivisible'longitudinally (or horizontally in the completed normalposition of the carton) into three portions which are separable alonglines of perforations as indicated at 25, 26, to provide an intermediatepart comprising a pair of end-to-end tear-strips 27, 28. The upper ofthe three pants of the front cover ange in the iinished carton serves,as best indicated in FIG. 6, as a permane-nt depending flange 30 for thefront edge oi the cover. The third part of the frontcover yilange,indicated by the numeral 31, is located in the finished carton below theregion of the tear-strip and is adapted to be permanently adhered to thefront panel of the carton. That is, when the carton is shipped from Ithemanufacturer to the packer in collapsed condition, as shown in FIG. 3,the area 31 will 4 substantial advantages, particularly in View of thefact that the strip extends through the aps at the ends of the frontcover flange rneans. This enables the front iiange portions of the coverto be securely held in place, including lthe reinforced corners, untilthe tear-strips are removed,

whereupon all of the ilange portions of the cover and including thereinforced corner portion, are separable, but still leaving a hrm danged cover and leaving the remainder of the carton in goed usefulcondition and such that the covermay be reclosed. The provision of apair of tearstrips with their pull-tabs located at the mid-portion ofVthe front of the carton, makes it possible for such tabs to cake of icecream partially out endwise for cutting into layers. Y Y

'Iihe provision of the flaps l5 and 16 opstanding vertically from thebottom panel, makes Vit possible to close the entire end areas withinthe carton after it is filled and to insulate'the contents against suchheat as may be applied to heat seal the yoverlying outer closure iiap,portions in normally be permanently adhered to the front panel 19.

Itwill be noted from FIG. 1 that the tear-strip means `divides the flapson the front 'cover flange panel into three pants, with the intermediatepart comprising the tear-strip means land with parts as at 35, a, whichare adapted to ,be folded back and heat-sealed to thefront ends of theilanges '17 and 18 on the cover panel. The remaining partsy of the flaps23, 24, viz. the parts indicated at 36, 35a are permanently adhered bythe cartonV manufacturer to the front portions of ilaps 19 and 20.

VThus when the tear strip means are removed, the parts of Vtherfrontcover flange panel which are to remain so as to constitute ange portionson the cover, will be sep-V arated from the pants 31,36, 35a whichremain adhered -V i to the body of the carton, as will be apparent fromFIG. 6.

, the tear-strips may be grasped by their pull-,tabs and readily pulledapart from the carton by pulling each strip/respectively toward the endsof the carton until the strips are 'complete-ly removed, if desired, notonly from the frontof the carton but also around the front corners to Ythe ends of lthe flap portions Z3, 24. However, if an attempt should bemade in any way to pullthe tear-strips respectively in the reversedirections, then because of the arrangement :of the diagonalY slits, thestrips will tend to tear iapant rather than become released. Thus withthe Vpull-tabs ylocated in a protected positionr at the midportion ofthefront of the carton, they will not tend to be pulledV to release thestrips accidentally, as might be .the case if the pull-tabs were 'at theVcorners of the carton at exposed positions with conventional types ofperforations. K

As shown in FIGS. l, Z 'and 6, the front panel at vits ends may beformed with small extensionsas at 4i), 41 adapted to be looatedratthe'up-per portions ofthe iront panel in the finished carton and to beyfolded back, as indicated .in lEIGL 6, into .engagement with the innerend closure wall portions 15 and 16, thereby to prevent leakage .lorspillage at the front upper corners of ythe carton when the cover isopened. n A tearestripv means in the vform described has further place.latter extend only up to the level of the lower edge of the cover fendilaps, makes it possible, after the cover is raisw,

to insert the ngers between the Vinner and outer wall portions of theend closures for rapidly pulling open the end of thecarton if desired.

Although a. 'certainparticular embodiment of the invention is hereindisclosed for purposes of explanation, further modifications thereof,after study of this speciiication, will be apparent to, ,those skilledin the art to which the/invention pertains.` Reference should accordforthe carton, the aps on the Ybottom panel being adapted to be folded intovertical positions and being of areas substantially to cover the endareas within the carton, the iiavps on the cover panel being relativelynarrow withrespect to thek carton height and adapted to be folded overto form depending flanges at the ends of the carton cover, the iiaps onthe ends of the front lpanels being of length no greater than the widthofthe carton and the iiaps on the ends or" the back panels being oflength less than the width of, the carton and said flaps on therespective ends of the back and front panels being adapted to be foldedover at the ends of the Vcarton in -superposed relation, withV theyiiaps on the ends of the back panel outermost, and'carrying adhesive forsealingV same together in such relation and same being Vat locations andof areas for covering substantially only those portions ofl the ends ofthe carton which are below the end anges of the cover; the front coverilange panel including the iapsKV thereon being divisible longitudinallyinto at least three parts, separable along a pair of spaced lines ofperforations extending from the freer side edge of one of Vsaidlast-mentioned flaps along said front cover panel to the free side edgeof the other of said last-menf tioned aps to provide an intermediateremovable tearstrip part, an upper part for providing remainingdepending cover flange means after the tear-strip part is removed, andthe third part being adapted for adhesion to the front panel and toremain after removal of the tear-strip Vvpart,

The facty that the greater. part of the areas of the said tear-strippart comprising two tear strips which respectively have pull tabsadjacent the midportion of the front of the carton and said tabs beingadapted to be pulled separately and independently in oppositedirections, respectively, for removing the two tear strips; and the apsat 'die ends of the front cover ange panel being of length on the setupcarton to be folded rearwardly in superposed relation to the frontportions of the ends of the carton without overlapping the aps on theback panel and that portion of said latter iaps above the tearsrlp part,bearing adhesive for retaining same to the cover end flanges whereby theend of the carton may be readily opened without opening the cover.

References Cied in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS DallerOct. 29, 1935 Lowey July 5, 1938 Goodyear May 9, 1944 Zastrow Dec. 16,1958 Frazier Sept. 19, 1961 Stone Oct. 17, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS GreatBritain Sept. 27, 1937

